Liquid fertilizer applicator

Abstract

A liquid fertilizer applicator is provided, designed to be pulled by a motive power source, for use in a variety of soil and tillage conditions. It includes a disc-shaped coulter and an associated applicator knife mounted in trailing relation to the coulter, with a feed tube fixed to the rear of the knife. The leading edge of the arcuate knife conforms to and lies in close proximity to the outer periphery of the coulter disc. An alternative arrangement includes a knife with an angled lower facing edge and a heel extension to protect the feed tube opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid fertilizer applicator including: (a) a portable frame and a support mechanism connected to said frame supporting a coulter wheel on a central axis;   (b) an arcuately shaped knife mounted on an arm of said support mechanism, said knife having a leading edge substantially complimentary in configuration to the outer periphery of said coulter wheel, said knife disposed rearwardly of said coulter and in partial surrounding relationship thereto, said knife positioned in uniform and adjacent generally skimming proximity to a portion of said coulter's outer periphery from a lowermost point of said leading edge located below and behind said central axis, to an uppermost point of said leading edge located above and behind said central axis of said coulter;   (c) a liquid application conduit associated with said knife and connectable to a source of treating liquid for dispensing said liquid directly into a trench created by said coulter wheel; and   (d) adjustment means consisting of a plurality of horizontal slots formed in said knife and a plurality of complementary fasteners extending from said arm of said support mechanism positioned to correspond with said slots and adapted to be horizontally movable therein, said adjustment means operative to uniformly vary the spacing between said knife and said coulter and to maintain said spacing at a uniform predetermined distance to compensate for wear.   
     
     
       2. A liquid fertilizer applicator as in claim 1 wherein a uniform gap defined between said outer periphery of said coulter wheel and said leading edge of said knife is no greater than one-eighth inch, whereby vegetable matter caught between said knife and said coulter may be sliced by the rotating action of said coulter against said knife. 
     
     
       3. A liquid fertilizer applicator as in claim 1 wherein the arc defined from the lowermost point of said coulter wheel to the lowest point of the knife's leading edge is greater than 30°. 
     
     
       4. A liquid fertilizer applicator as in claim 1 wherein said liquid application conduit is fixed to a trailing edge of said knife. 
     
     
       5. A liquid fertilizer applicator as in claim 4 wherein said liquid application conduit has a lower open end located higher than the lowest point of said knife's trailing edge, whereby said open end is shielded by said knife from soil and debris. 
     
     
       6. A liquid fertilizer applicator as in claim 5 wherein said knife includes a heel member at the lowermost point of the knife's trailing edge, said heel member extending rearwardly from said trailing edge beneath the open end of said liquid application conduit. 
     
     
       7. A liquid fertilizer applicator as in claim 1 wherein said knife has a lower facing edge extending from the lowermost point of the leading edge rearwardly and downwardly to a heel of said knife. 
     
     
       8. A liquid fertilizer applicator as in claim 7 wherein an angle of attack formed by said lower facing edge and a horizontal plane through said lower facing edge is not greater than 20°.